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CINCINNATI -- Edmond Sumner ditched the tape on his injured finger and played his best all-around game, a good sign for No. 17 Xavier as it enters Big East play.Sumner scored 12 of his 14 points while Xavier took control in the first half, and the Musketeers picked up their third straight win, 85-56 over Eastern Washington on Tuesday night.After a sluggish start, the Musketeers (10-2) took control with a 35-8 run. Sumner ran the show, ignoring the finger injury he suffered a few games ago.Every time I catch or dribble the ball, its just nagging, said Sumner, who had been taping together the two outside fingers on his left hand. Im a little superstitious. With the tape, I felt I had no control over the ball. I had to suck it up and play through the pain.Sumner finished with a career-high nine assists and no turnovers. Trevon Bluiett added 16 points, and Xavier had five players score in double figures.Jacob Wiley had 16 points for Eastern Washington (8-4) , which trailed by as many as 29 points.We were up 11 at the 11-minutes mark, then Xavier showed why theyre a Top 10 team, Eastern Washington coach Jim Hayford said. They were 6 for 6 closing out the first half. When they shoot the ball that well, theyre an unbeatable team.Eastern Washington made eight of its first 13 shots -- including two 3s by Felix Von Hofe -- against Xaviers sluggish defense for a 22-11 lead. Thats when Xavier turned it on, finishing the half on a 35-8 surge.We clamped down after sleep walking for the first 8 minutes or so, coach Chris Mack said.Kaiser Gates hit three of Xaviers seven 3s during the spurt and finished with a season-high 12 points . Gates, a sophomore forward, had knee surgery before the start of the season and missed the first five games. Hes struggled to get back in form, making only 4 of 17 from behind the arc before Tuesday night.Overall Id say its the best Ive felt, Gates said. I felt a lot more loose than usual, a little more bouncy.BIG PICTUREEastern Washington: The Eagles are 1-24 all-time against ranked teams, including losses this season to Texas and Xavier. Their only win over a ranked team was 68-67 over No. 10 Saint Josephs on Nov. 15, 2001.Xavier: Sumner showed no problems handling the ball despite the sore finger. He made all of his four shots in the first half -- two from beyond the arc -- and two free throws.POLL IMPLICATIONSAfter consecutive road losses to Baylor and Colorado dropped them out of the Top 10, the Musketeers have stabilized with their three straight wins.VON HOFE HURTVon Hofe, who is Eastern Washingtons top 3-point shooter, hurt his left shoulder while going for a loose ball with 5:21 left in the game and went to the bench. He wore a sling at the end of the game. Von Hofe finished with nine points, going 3 of 10 from beyond the arc.OFF THE MARKEastern Washington came into the game making 81.8 percent from the free throw line, second nationally to Notre Dame, but went only 9 of 18 against Xavier.UP NEXTEastern Washington goes to Colorado on Thursday for the third of four straight road games. The Eagles finish their trip at Idaho on Dec. 30.Xavier opens Big East play against Providence at the Cintas Center on Dec. 28.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org A. J. Pollock Jersey .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. A. J. Pollock Dodgers Jersey . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. https://www.cheapdodgersonline.com/75h-hyun-jin-ryu-jersey-dodgers.html .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. Kyle Garlick Jersey .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Hyun-jin Ryu Dodgers Jersey . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. Growing up, Jill Geer wanted to be a professional football player. But she chose track and field because she could control her own destiny -- she could depend on herself to win a race.The former sports writer is now the chief public affairs officer for USA Track & Field. Under her leadership, USATF has navigated the evolving world of digital media,?marketing and sponsorship.?Shes worked with many champion athletes and witnessed competitors break more than 30 world records.As she prepares for the Olympics in Rio next month, Geer is managing to remain calm, particularly amid the the disparaging headlines surrounding USATFs long-term sponsorship agreement with Nike. Geer, who is married and has a 10-year-old son named Hayden, opens the door to her busy life.?Coolest moment?In 2014, several members of the 1968 Olympic track and field team returned to Echo Summit, California, where the 1968 Olympic trials were held, and we had a ceremony honoring them.I had the opportunity to speak in front of the one group of people I would refer to as truly my heroes. They were men who were important to society, to the Olympic movement and to human rights as well. When I spoke, I saw my hero, bronze medalist John Carlos -- who raised a black-gloved fist during the American national anthem at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City -- nodding his head and telling me to preach. And at that moment, knowing that these men whom I thought were so important felt understood and appreciated almost moved me to tears.Focus to overcome obstacles?The correlation between distance running and any job is the ability to focus and overcome distractions, overcome pain and discomfort, whether its personal, physical or professional, to get something done. The things I am most proud of at work are often times where we face a great challenge and figure it out.Running the worldWhile traveling is a great way to get out and see the world, the fact is that once I reach my destination, Im working. I dont run on treadmills; I go out into the city and run. At various cities, running has become my sightseeing because there is too much work to be done to be doing any vacationing.Have perspectiveDont take anything personally, and then you can deal with whatever the issue is in a professional way. The most important thing in dealing with a sensitive issue or a crisis is to first take a step back. When its a sensitive topic, especiaally in the social media world, you have to step back and see: Who is it coming from and how many people are really contributing?In the social media world, very few people get very active on social to say positive things.ddddddddddddIts important to keep perspective with any issue. Acknowledge concern while pointing out factual basis.Positive thinking is keyThe great thing is that whether its the Olympic trials -- which last for a week and a half in Oregon -- or the Olympic Games or any of our events, regardless of if you are ready for them, they arrive, they start, they happen, they finish and they go great! Its just something that we manage. We do what we need to do to succeed, just like our championship athletes.Anything a guy can do, I can doWhen I was an athlete, or even as a professional, whether its right or wrong, Ive never self-identified first as a female. I never thought of myself as a female athlete or a woman in sports. Ive been an athlete and a person in sports first. For me that was a good thing because it meant that in no way I limited myself throughout my whole life. Anything a guy can do, I can do. That was never even a question.Sisterhood in sportsIm really appreciative of the sisterhood Ive always had with female journalists. Women in sports just have a different kind of experience than men in sports.Be gratefulNo job is cool every day, and every job has days where you wonder what youre doing. But if youre fortunate enough to get a cool job, it is so important to be grateful for the job you have and to the people who helped you get there.Always try new thingsPushing yourself out of your comfort zone is how you grow and really stay engaged in your job. Ive been here for 16 years, and this job has never been boring to me. That is one of the highest compliments I can give a job because to not burn out after 16 years is saying something for me.Byron Linnell Edwards is a run coach, marathoner and triathlete. The former entertainment executive spent his formative years working in public relations and event logistics at Viacom (BET Networks), Roc Nation, Huff Events & PR, and Urban League while doing social media and digital consulting on a number of projects within entertainment and creative properties. Follow him?@ByronLinnell.? ' ' '